Research and analysis of international cruiser-related infectious diseases

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiological problems concerning cruiser-related infectious diseases reported since 1973, so as to provide evidences for the diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases. Methods Information retrieval was made by using Pubmed, Medline and China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI) to find out papers concerning cruiser-related infectious diseases reported from 1973 to the present, and at the same time, data concerning cruiser-related gastrointestinal infectious diseases published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) were also sorted out, and finally statistical analyses were made on such related factors as the category of diseases, types of pathogens and the areas of navigation. Results Research results indicated that gastrointestinal infectious diseases and respiratory infectious diseases, the gastrointestinal infectious diseases in particular, were the two main types of cruiser-related infectious diseases. Norovirus, shigella and Escherichia coli were the most commonly detected pathogens in the gastrointestinal infectious disease pathogens, whereas the most pathogenic factor for respiratory diseases were influenza virus, followed by varicella and legionella. In all the cruisers that were affected by infectious diseases, those sailing in tropical waters had the higher incidence rate, which was significantly higher than those sailing in temperate and frigid zones, which accounted for 72.72%, 13.64% and 13.64% respectively. Conclusions Gastrointestinal infectious diseases and respiratory infectious diseases were the main types of cruiser-related infectious diseases, and the distribution of pathogens had their special patterns, which were closely related with the geographic regions of sailing. Knowledge about cruiser-related infectious diseases was of important significance for rapid diagnosis, prevention and control of related diseases. Key words: Cruiser; Infectious diseases; Gastrointestinal infectious diseases; Respiratory infectious diseases; Tropical waters